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Andrew Golota stood in the nuetral corner, referee Randy Neumann was counting over a stunned and hurt champion John Ruiz, and many of the 12,777 boxing enthusiasts in attendence at Madison Square Garden were deliriously frenzied. Boxing's grandest and most historic venue was a virtual sea of red and white!
The Warsaw native Golota, now living and fighting out of Chicago, had said all along this was "my time, my time to be world champion." For about 6-7 seconds in round two Saturday night it looked like Golota, with all the disqualifications, biting of opponents and quitting in the ring behind him, had finally acheived in his tumultuous boxing career that defining moment. Beating John Ruiz and taking his World Boxing Council championship belt would have distinguished the "Powerful Pole"; no more jokes, no more chokes, and certainly no more being escorted out of boxing rings getting pelted with debris and beer bottles.
Unfortunately, this was to be the closest Golota would get, his championship dreams were fleeting.
Golota, now 38-5-1(with 31 KO's and 1 no contest), would get credit for a second knockdown with his dragging of Ruiz back down to the canvas in round two, would also benefit from Ruiz being penalized a point in round four (hitting behind the head) and by the end of round six - the halfway point of this foul-plagued fracas - Golota was ahead on two of the three judge's scorecards. [details]
The Warsaw native Golota, now living and fighting out of Chicago, had said all along this was "my time, my time to be world champion." For about 6-7 seconds in round two Saturday night it looked like Golota, with all the disqualifications, biting of opponents and quitting in the ring behind him, had finally acheived in his tumultuous boxing career that defining moment. Beating John Ruiz and taking his World Boxing Council championship belt would have distinguished the "Powerful Pole"; no more jokes, no more chokes, and certainly no more being escorted out of boxing rings getting pelted with debris and beer bottles.
Unfortunately, this was to be the closest Golota would get, his championship dreams were fleeting.
Golota, now 38-5-1(with 31 KO's and 1 no contest), would get credit for a second knockdown with his dragging of Ruiz back down to the canvas in round two, would also benefit from Ruiz being penalized a point in round four (hitting behind the head) and by the end of round six - the halfway point of this foul-plagued fracas - Golota was ahead on two of the three judge's scorecards. [details]
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